Why is Donald Trump suing Paramount for $16 million? Colbert and Stewart’s comments under fire due to Epstein reference

American President Donald Trump is suing Paramount Global for $16 million over deceptive editing by CBS News in an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Paramount chose not to fight the case in court and instead decided to settle sparking controversy across the nation.

High-profile talk show hosts, including Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart have sharply criticized the growing hypocrisy of Trump's supporter base especially concerning references to Jeffrey Epstein. The issue has reignited tensions over media credibility, internal MAGA movement fractures and Trump's complicated history.

Trump’s Lawsuit and Paramount’s Settlement

Can’t wait for Monday! https://t.co/5wmCEnfscy pic.twitter.com/9mELuFHTyx

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) September 28, 2023

The $16 million lawsuit filed by Donald Trump stemmed from claims that CBS News, a division of Paramount misrepresented his comments in a 2023 interview. According to his legal team, the segment was "deceptively edited" in a way that undermined his political reputation during the Republican primary season. Although Paramount initially believed the case didn’t sustain much merit, they ultimately decided to settle in order to avoid a prolonged legal battle.

Late-night host Stephen Colbert, whose Late Show airs on CBS, mocked the network’s decision to settle, also noting that even the network admitted the lawsuit lacked substance. 

“As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended. Paramount knows they could have fought it,” said the host Stephen Colbert.

He jokingly stated that if the studio could justify making Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, it could certainly have fought Trump in court. The decision to settle without an apology raised eyebrows. There are ongoing speculations that the move may have been influenced by Paramount’s ongoing negotiations over CBS with Skydance Media, which would require regulatory approval, in turn giving Trump leverage.

Colbert further joked that $16 million might be enough to bring some dignity back to the network and also stated that the settlement was “a big fat bribe” in everything but name.

Epstein Comments Trigger MAGA Infighting

Jon discusses the Epstein Files update. An all-new episode of The Weekly Show is out tomorrow! #theweeklyshow pic.twitter.com/mVl6myfzIX

— The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart (@weeklyshowpod) July 9, 2025

Beyond the lawsuit, late-night hosts zeroed in on another emerging controversy surrounding the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement confirming there is no incriminating client list or credible evidence suggesting Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals, which completely undermined one of the most persistent conspiracy theories sounded out by Trump and other right-wing politicians. 

Trump, like many other right-wing politicians, suggested that the list will be released if he wins the election, with intentions to punish the names present on it. However, the recent comments from the Attorney General deny the existence of any such list, with Pam also declaring Jeffrey Epstein’s death as a suicide, contrary to the original suggestions of foul play.

On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart noted how Donald Trump’s own administration is now distancing itself from theories once promoted by Trump and his allies. Stewart pointed out the irony while showing a video of Trump supporters booing or even burning MAGA hats.

 “We went from ‘Epstein will expose the Democrats’ to ‘Epstein’s files were made up by Democrats,’” said Jon Stewart during his segment.

Trump himself addressed the backlash on Truth Social, calling out “selfish people” for hurting the movement “over a guy who never dies—Jeffrey Epstein,” which only fueled further speculation and satire. Colbert seized on that line, sarcastically suggesting Epstein is “zombie Epstein, coming for our brains.”

Seth Meyers joined the pile-on, pointing out that Donald Trump had social ties to Epstein, as he had previously praised him during one of his interviews. He criticized MAGA followers for ignoring these associations while obsessing over the case. Meyers also highlighted inconsistencies in earlier statements by Pam Bondi, who previously claimed to have the Epstein list on her desk—only to later clarify that she had a general file, not an actual client list.

“The only two things that held [MAGA] together were a cult-like devotion to Trump and their conspiracy theories and now that those are butting up against each other, they’re imploding,” Meyers concluded.

Deeper rifts within Donald Trump’s administration and escalating tensions in corporate media are highlighted by the lawsuit and controversy surrounding the Epstein case as well as the ongoing legal and cultural repercussions. It is unclear if Donald Trump's political momentum or Paramount will be negatively impacted in the long run by the $16 million payment. But it's undeniable that politics, conspiracy theories and entertainment continue to influence public opinion in unforeseen and very volatile ways.

Stay tuned with us for further updates.